Mark Wahlberg is set to shock fans by marrying longtime girlfriend Rhea Durham on Saturday.

The couple has been dating since 2001 and has three kids together.

Wahlberg started talking about marriage earlier this year but refused to name the date. He said, "I finally feel like we’re ready to take the step and we’ll have success."

Now, In Touch magazine reports Wahlberg and Durham will exchange vows at the Good Shephard Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.

A source tells the magazine, "It’s going to be a small and intimate event, with just close family, including their kids."

Wahlberg previously told People.com he was toying with the idea of getting married in his native Boston, Massachusetts, but feared, "If we do it in Boston, I would say there'd be a lot more family members, so there'll be some fighting."

Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey and the rest of this year's Top 10 American Idol performers were in Sunrise, Florida on Wednesday, July 27th during one of the 50 stops throughout the US with the "American Idols Live Tour" concert. Adam stoled the show with his rocking performances including: "Mad World" and a medley of David Bowie classics "Fame" and "Let's Dance."

HBO announced the renewal of its entire summer lineup of original programing, ordering another round of freshman comedy "Hung," veteran comedy "Entourage" and hit vampire drama "True Blood."

Network executives addressing the critics at the Television Critics Association's semiannual press tour said "Hung" will get a second season, "True Blood" a third and "Entourage" a seventh. The new seasons will debut in 2010, with "Blood" planned for summer.

The freshly formed Sunday-night lineup has given HBO two consecutive hours of hit programing for the first time in years. "True Blood" in particular has managed to increase its audience with nearly every episode, giving the network its most-watched show since "The Sopranos."

"True Blood" has averaged 3.8 million viewers (11.2 when you add repeats, DVR and On Demand viewing), "Hung" has averaged 3.1 million (10.2 million total) and "Entourage" brings in about 3.0 million (7.4 million total).

Programing head Michael Lombardo and co-president Richard Plepler also dropped hints about the fates and air dates of other HBO programing during the network's executive session.

Next year HBO intends to air "Big Love" in January and roll out its highly anticipated World War II miniseries "The Pacific" in March. The war epic eventually will serve as lead-in for "Treme," the New Orleans drama from "The Wire" creator David Simon.

Emmy-nominated "Flight of the Conchords" also likely will return; executives made the prospect of a third season sound probable.

"When they're ready, we're ready," Plepler said of the show's musical comedy duo, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. "They have the added challenge of writing an album ... we're waiting for them to tell us they're ready."

Though HBO's full development pipeline is expected to present the network with some tough choices in the coming months, one project that looks almost certain to make the air is Martin Scorsese's period drama "Boardwalk Empire," starring Steve Buscemi.

Executives were less certain about critical favorite "In Treatment" and "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," the latter program having lost executive producer Anthony Minghella, who died last year. But they didn't rule out the idea of either show returning.

"We're trying to put it together," Lombardo said of "Treatment." "It's adapted from a series (for) which there were only two seasons ... we're trying to see if it's possible."

Diane Keaton is venturing into series television with a half-hour comedy at HBO.

Written by Marti Noxon, the untitled project stars the Oscar winner as a feminist icon who attempts to reignite the movement by starting a sexually explicit magazine for women.

The comedy hails from Grady Twins Prods., a production company recently launched by Noxon and Dawn Parouse. Noxon, Parouse and Keaton are executive producing.

"We've came a long way since the Kinsey report; women are more sexual now," said Noxon, referring to Alfred Kinsey's controversial 1953 report "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female."

Added Parouse: "There seems to be a new evolution of what women are sexually. Women are acting more like men sexually."

Noxon had carried the kernel of the idea for a show that touches upon feminism as long as she can remember.

She was 12 when her mother came out as a radical feminist and a lesbian and recalls juggling her mom's beliefs -- which included the dismissal of leg shaving as "giving into patriarchalism" -- with her own interests.

"I wanted to be a gal, I was very interested in men, and I wanted to shave my legs," Noxon said.

She and Parouse bounced around the idea of a young feminist working at a porn magazine. The moment they decided to make the central character an older, Gloria Steinem-type feminist icon, it all fell into place.

They said Keaton was the first actress they thought of.

"There are a lot of similarities between Diane and Gloria Steinem," Parouse said. "They both grew up in the '50s, a period marked by women finding their relevance sexually, and Diane has been attracted to roles about women exploring their sexuality in films like 'Something's Gotta Give.' "

Keaton has played feminist icons: She portrayed journalist Louise Bryant in 1981 film "Reds" and aviator Amelia Earhart in the 1994 telefilm "Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight."

Noxon and Parouse met on the 2003 Fox drama "Still Life," which they executive produced. They also worked on the network's 2005 series "Point Pleasant" before parting ways to pursue other jobs: Parouse executive produced "Prison Break" and Noxon worked on "Grey's Anatomy," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Private Practice."

Last year the decided to launch a company, and named it Grady Twins after characters from "The Shining." "We made a pinkie promise to do projects we love and see where it takes us," Parouse said.

Michael Jackson's father Joe has confirmed the late King of Pop was the biological father of Omer Bhatti, the boy long rumored to be his fourth child.

Speculation surrounding the relationship between Jackson and the 25-year-old dancer reached fever pitch after Bhatti was given a front row seat at the entertainer's Los Angeles memorial service in July.

Bhatti is said to have requested a DNA test to determine if Jackson was his dad, amid reports the singer fathered him after a one night stand in 1984.

Joe Jackson has now stepped in to end the long-standing rumours, noting the pair's striking similarities and insisting he's always known about his son's secret child.

He tells Newsone.com, "Yes I knew he had another son, yes I did. He looks like a Jackson, he acts like a Jackson, he can dance like a Jackson. This boy is a fantastic dancer as a matter of fact. I don't know (if he will be the future of the Jacksons). I can't say that yet until I see it happen."

Reports from the U.S. allege Bhatti's mother, Pia, is also the mother of Jackson's youngest son, Prince Micheal II, aka Blanket - who was delivered by an anonymous surrogate. The singer's two eldest children Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, were born to Jackson's ex-wife, Debbie Rowe.

With a mix of gay and lesbian characters, sex, violence, full frontal male nudity andenhanced visual effects, what's there not to love about the new Starz original action series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand"?

Produced by Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man") and starring hunky Australian actor, Andy Whitfield ("McLeod's Daughters"), lesbian icon Lucy Lawless ("Xena: Warrior Princess") and British character actor John Hannah ("The Mummy"), this unique mix of live action, graphic novel effects and brutal battle sequences is set to make "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" an epic (and very, very sexy) television event.

Hollywood came to Havana on Thursday as Cuban writers and artists gave an award to Benicio del Toro, star of the 2008 movie "Che," in a ceremony attended by fellow actors Bill Murray, Robert Duvall and James Caan.

Murray stole the show when he improvised a version of the song "As Time Goes By," then jokingly passed around a hat, asking for money.

Their presence lent a bit of Hollywood glitz to warming U.S.-Cuba relations, and may have been the precursor for the making of a film in Cuba.

A spokesman for the group said del Toro was in town for the award, but that Murray, Duvall and Caan were working on a "research project.

When asked if he and his pals might make a movie on the communist-led island, del Toro told reporters: "That depends on the governments, on the American government."

Because of the long-standing U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, Americans have been forbidden, with some exceptions, from visiting the island or doing most business there.

Hollywood stars such as Robert Redford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and director Steven Spielberg have come to Cuba in the past but cultural exchanges slowed due to restrictions imposed by former U.S. President George W. Bush.

The group's spokesman said they were traveling under a license granted by the U.S. Treasury Department.

U.S. President Barack Obama offered earlier this year to "recast" relations with Cuba, which have been sour since the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro in power.

Obama has lifted travel restrictions for Cuban Americans and restarted immigration talks with Cuba that were suspended under Bush.

Last week, the United States said a Bush-era news ticker on the U.S. Interests Section building in Havana, which the Cuban government viewed as an affront, had been turned off.

Puerto Rican-born del Toro won acclaim here last year for his portrayal of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, an Argentine who fought alongside Castro in the Cuban revolution, in the title role of the two-part biopic "Che," directed by American Steven Soderbergh.

The International Tomas Gutierrez Alea Prize, named for the late Cuban director who made the 1994 film "Strawberry and Chocolate," "makes me feel small and proud at the same time," del Toro said. "It's an honor to win this prize."

Madonna – who divorced British director Guy Ritchie earlier this year after almost eight years of marriage – penned a track about a couple who loved, fought and loved again, sparking speculation the pair are set to reconcile.

Madonna has even ordered Guy a special personalised rifle for his birthday in September. A source told Britain’s Grazia magazine: The whole relationship now is just unbelievable. Not long ago, people wouldn’t even dare bring up his name because it was so bad. When they did talk, all they did was scream abuse at each other down the phone.

Madonna has met few people in her life she truly respects and one of them is Guy. Forgetting everything else, she admires his intellect and cares about what he thinks.

No one ever expected they could go from lovers to enemies and then back to incredibly close friends. Friends of the Sherlock Holmes filmmaker have also claimed he still refers to Madonna as if they are married. One source said: "He’ll often say, 'My wife is in great shape.'"

The couple agreed to resolve their differences after Madonna’s 12-year-old daughter Lourdes (from a previous relationship) told her mother she wanted the pair to get along. A source said: “She sat down with her mother and told her straight out that she wanted things to be good. It was then Madonna who called Guy and they met up in London and spent hours just talking. There was no shouting, no attitude and no hostility.”

The former couple – who also have sons Rocco, eight, and David, three, together – have further strengthened their bond since the singer introduced Guy to her newly-adopted daughter Mercy, four.

The source added: “They have spent time together as a family, it was all very low key. He and Madonna were laughing together, he was teasing her like he used to and the edge was gone. She was asking him a lot of advice and getting him involved in decisions.”

Josh Brolin struggled to film sex scenes with Megan Fox in upcoming movie Jonah Hex - he had to kiss the brunette beauty while wearing a bulky mouthpiece.

The actor spent three hours in the make-up chair having his mouth stretched open with tape and facial prosthetics fitted to transform into anti-hero Hex - a badly-scarred American Civil War veteran - for the big-screen adaptation of the comic book.

And the cumbersome make-up meant he couldn't perform at his best during steamy scenes with the stunning actress.

Brolin explains, "It was tough to figure out how to kiss with that thing on. To be honest, it was uncomfortable; those scenes are uncomfortable. It was especially uncomfortable because I had this thing on my face."

Dolly Parton's 9 To 5 musical is to close on Broadway after a disappointing run in New York.

The show was a hit when it launched in Los Angeles earlier this year, but the success failed to materialise in the Big Apple and now producers have announced the show will close, after 148 performances, on 6 September.

The musical, based on Parton's 1980 film, will begin a national tour in Nashville, Tennessee three weeks later.

Parton insists the show has been a big hit for her: "I couldn't have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show. I've had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people who have become like family to me. I can't wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I'm so proud of everyone involved."

9 To 5: The Musical was nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, Best Actress in a Musical (Allison Janney), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Marc Kudisch), and Best Choreography. Janney also received a 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and the production received a record-breaking 15 Drama Desk nominations, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Actress in a Musical and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Marc Kudisch).

David Beckham is back on the field with the L.A. Galaxy this summer. And despite some unruly fans at a recent game – upset over his time spent playing in Europe – Beckham is keeping his cool.

"It's sometimes nice to get the boos – its gives you inspiration," he told People. The soccer star tackled readers' questions about his life with wife Victoria and their sons, his sexy underwear ads and his quirky hobbies (he loves to vacuum!).

What do you see as your greatest achievement?

Beckham: In my career there's many things I've won, and many things I've achieved, but for me my greatest achievement is my children and my family. It's about being a good father, a good husband, just being connected to family as much as possible.

How did you come up with your children's names?Beckham: With Brooklyn, we found out when we were in New York that Victoria was pregnant with him, so that's where his name comes from. Romeo comes from [the fact] that we're a very romantic couple. When we first met Tom Cruise – actually quite a few years ago – I said 'Isn't Cruise a really nice name?' And Cruz came from that. Tom was one of the first people we phoned when Cruz was born and told him.

How do you get pumped up before every game?

Beckham: I'm not a player who has to hit walls and things like that. I'm very relaxed and listen to music. I try to go into a game as relaxed as possible. Jay-Z is someone I enjoy listening to. I love the Spice Girls, of course!

What is a typical Sunday morning at home?

Beckham: We get up and have breakfast in the mornings and then the kids go to soccer practice. Then we come home and have a traditional Sunday lunch of roast beef, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy and Yorkshire pudding. Then the boys either have a swim in the pool or we take them to the beach if we're in L.A., then in the evening we watch a family film together.

What's the secret to making your marriage with Victoria work?

Beckham: You have to have fun together. We've got three beautiful children together which our whole time is making them happy and making sure they're healthy and good so most of our time is spent on them. But we have to also spend time together as a couple and that's always important.

What do you plan on doing whenever you retire from playing soccer?

Beckham: I plan on spending time with the family and getting more involved in charity. Being ambassador for UNICEF is something I'm very passionate. I went to Sierra Leone last year, which was an amazing experience. We also have our own charity [The David and Victoria Beckham Children's Charity] and I've got a soccer academy. I've got quite a few things to keep me busy.

Do your kids ever see your underwear ads?

Beckham: When they first saw them, they were like "Daddy, why are you in your underwear so everyone can see?" They don't mind. If they were older they'd be embarrassed, maybe.

What passion do you have in your life that might surprise people?

Beckham: I'm very passionate about cleanliness and housework. I love to vacuum. And I also like cooking. My signature dish for Victoria is grilled prawns or lobster and fresh vegetables. And for the children and for myself it's pasta with fresh tomatoes sauce and olives.

For more of Beckham's answers – to questions about this tattoos, his marriage and wanting more kids – pick up this week's PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

The studio behind the project, Vivendi Entertainment, describes the movie as "a collaboration of storytelling from some of today's most imaginative filmmakers" who "create a kaleidoscope of the spontaneous, surprising, electrifying human connections that pump the city's heartbeat."

Natalie Portman, who stars in the film, also spent some time working behind the camera. She's credited as a screenwriter and one of 11 directors, along with Brett Ratner (whose credits include Rush Hour and X-Men: The Last Stand).

Jude Law, who has three children with ex-wife Sadie Frost, has discovered he's expecting a fourth child with an unidentified former lover.

"Jude Law can confirm that, following a relationship last year, he has been advised that he is to be the father of a child due in the fall of this year," the actor's rep says in a statement. "Mr. Law is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child's life. This is an entirely private matter and no other statements will be made."

Law, 36, next will appear in Hamlet on Broadway in October, and will star with Robert Downey Jr. in the film Sherlock Holmes opening on Christmas Day.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

If you've listened to Top 40 radio recently, you've undoubtedly heard Beyoncé's new single "Halo," an autotuned departure from her typical ballad. You may have also heard Kelly Clarkson's latest single, "Already Gone." And you might have recognized that the songs share the exact same intro, and many elements thereafter. That's because Beyoncé and Kelly share a producer, Ryan Tedder, who apparently neglected to inform both parties that the song had been given to both of them.

Clarkson isn't particularly happy about the mix-up. She told the Canadian Broadcasting Company: "No one's gonna be sittin' at home, thinking 'Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyoncé and Kelly the same track to write to.' " she said. "No, they're just gonna be saying I ripped someone off."

"I fought and fought" to stop it, she said, but couldn't. "In the end, they're releasing it without my consent," says a frustrated Clarkson. "It sucks, but it's one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It's kind of a sh---y situation, but...you know, you learn."

Note to famous people: beware the photograph. beware the email, beware the text message, beware the voice mail recording. The people you love are not immune to the promise of money, and given the chance, they will probably sell you out.

Just a couple of weeks after a 1979 nude photograph of singer Madonna fetched nearly $40K at auction, more Madge memorabilia has hit the market. Madonna's ex-boyfriend, James Albright, has decided to sell about 17 minutes worth of "racy" phone messages the singer left him nearly 20 years ago.

Also up for grabs: 21 faxes exchanged between 1992 and 1994, and a 15-minute "very personal and intimate video" the singer prepared for her one-time love. See pictures of the fax messages here, and think carefully about breaking out the video camera if you ever plan to become famous.

Fueled by the continuous excitement, Arista Records has moved the release date of Whitney Houston’s “I Look To You” up to August 31st.

As a gift to her fans, a free download of the album’s title track, powered by Yahoo! Music, is available now at www.whitneyhouston.com until July 31st. “I Look To You,” a sweeping ballad with Whitney’s signature soaring vocals that fans have come to love, was written by R. Kelly.

The terrorist group al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades has issued a statement that includes a veiled threat against Sacha Baron Cohen.

The Martyrs’ Brigades are upset over being featured in Baron Cohen’s film, “Bruno.”

“We reserve the right to respond in the way we find suitable against this man,” the group said in a statement to WorldNet reporter Aaron Klein. “The movie was part of a conspiracy against the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.”

The al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades is a coalition of secular Palestinian nationalist militias in the West Bank. The group’s name refers to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Baron Cohen is taking the threat seriously and has stepped up security for himself and his family.

In the film, “Bruno” meets with Ayman Abu Aita — the leader of the Martyrs’ Brigades, and tries to get himself kidnapped.

“This was a dirty use of our brother, Ayman, and we don’t accept that the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades is part of the film.”

Ayman Abu Aita is also preparing legal action against the Bruno star and Universal Studios. “This joke is very dangerous. We are not in the United States, we are not in Europe, we are in the Middle East and the world operates differently here,” he said.

They dance beautifully together, but planning the wedding may be tricky.

“He’s the groomzilla,” Karina Smirnoff says of fiancé and Dancing with the Stars costar Maksim Chmerkovskiy. “He wants a big wedding and I want it small, so we’re still in negotiations.”

Speaking at Animal Fair magazine’s 10th Annual Paws for Style fashion show sponsored by Svedka on Monday at M2 nightclub in New York, Chmerkovskiy’s bride-to-be explained his demands.

“He wants posh, beautiful … something that’s going to leave memories for the rest of your life,” says Smirnoff, who is costarring on Broadway with Chmerkovskiy in a three-week run of Burn The Floor before returning to Dancing with the Stars.

“I agree with him,” she adds, “but at the same time, I would rather have the memory be at the beach in Bora Bora [for our honeymoon], enjoying beautiful weather and clear water.”

But her “groomzilla” is not the only one making demands. “I told Max, I don’t want to dance,” Smirnoff said. “I do not want to have the first dance. But … he’s going to sing the song that I ask him to sing, which is ‘You Are So Beautiful’ by Joe Cocker. Granted, he may not really sound like Joe Cocker.”

Smirnoff also insists on a storybook gown. “Definitely white,” she said of her wedding dress. “You only supposed to get to wear a big white dress once in your life.”

As for her dream designer, Vera Wang, Smirnoff thinks she may have an in. “You know what the Internet rumor is, that she might be either coming to Dancing with the Stars . . . So I’m going to run up and say, ‘Please!’

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

It’s like one of the last scenes from Titanic. Save me Woody! Save me!

How romantic to see two men expressing their "love" for one another with a friendly game of top or bottom. Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson got their rough play on while vacationing in Portofino, Italy. Need a puff Woody after this rough play?

Do you wonder what was really going on between these two? Enquiring minds want to know!

There's a rumor going around that one of Scientology's most powerful proponents, John Travolta, is looking to leave the draconian religion once and for all. After the year he's had, it would make sense.

According to the Daily Mail, it appears to be a very real possibility. To say Travolta's had a rough go of it recently would be putting it very, very lightly.

On the business side of things, Travolta's big role this year performed under studio expectations. A complete aside, when you consider his personal life:

His son Jett - reportedly autistic, a diagnosis the Church of Scientology refuses to dignify - passed away earlier this year. Travolta defied Scientology and acknowledged it. Some sleazy gossip website put together a theory that enlists the idea of Travolta not only having a gay lover, but the gay lover - his son's nanny - being a primary cause of his son's death. Which is besides the fact that someone tried to extort him over documents involved in his son's transportation, and his wife might've tried (successfully) to get Roger Friedman fired by going to the top brass at Fox over Friedman's comments on Scientology.

All of this gives the Daily Mail's report some ground to walk on, when they note:

His distress, say sources close to him, has been compounded by the first cracks in his 34-year relationship with the Church of Scientology, the cult-like religion of which Travolta is a prominent and generous benefactor. And there are dark mutterings that if he carries out private threats to leave, the organisation will go public with embarrassing details of his private life, including, it is claimed, allegations of past homosexual relationships. Sources in the U.S. disclosed to me this week that his son's sudden death has 'deeply shaken' Travolta's faith in the strange sect, which makes wild claims about its ability to cure a variety of physical and mental disorders.

There's more talk of Travolta taking late night drives by himself, and being in a "state of constant distress." There's the very evident weight Travolta's gained. There's the memory of Scientology's scary-ass leader David Miscavage slagging on Travolta's sexuality:

Earlier, the prestigious Time magazine also reported allegations made by Richard Aznaran, the former security head of Scientology, that the Church's leader, David Miscavige, had repeatedly joked about Travolta's 'promiscuous homosexual behaviour'.

And then there's the fact that Scientology has a well known history of intimidation of the physical and emotional stripe. This goes without saying, but: Travolta's donated millions of dollars, and what could only be thousands of hours to the church throughout his life. Shit, he made Battlefield Earth.

For a celebrity of Travolta's stature to renounce Scientology would be massive, for both parties. Even rumors of Travolta's potential departure from the religion are pretty damning. Granted, it'll be a difficult path if he chooses to take it - the resistance he'll encounter from the highest levels of the religion are potentially fiscally, emotionally, and physically dangerous to his livelihood - but one that could shake Scientology to its absolute core.

That's right! One of the most memorable girl groups from the 80s & 90s is back with a new CD, "Viva", which will be released in September. The first single is titled "Love Comes" and it's video premiered last night on MSN. Here it is for your enjoyment.

It truly is another hit for Bananarama's Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Pop star Boy George has been blocked from becoming a fully-fledged member of the Hare Krishna movement because of his sexuality.Boy George was publicly a Hare Krishna follower during the eighties, when he was the lead singer of Culture Club, but was told by friends that he had to marry a woman in order to become a fully fledged member of the movement.

The troubled star, who has battled drug and alcohol problems and recently spent time in prison for falsely imprisoning a rent boy, was said to be "pretty upset".

Hare Krishna member Marianne Elliot-Said, better known as Poly Styrene of punk band X-Ray Spex, told ANI: "George never became a practising Hare Krishna. He was interested but they told him he couldn’t also be a practising homosexual."

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness says it accepts gay people, but they have to be celibate or get married to a woman and have Krishna-following children.

This is in line with the beliefs of the Hare Krishna movement which states that sex and desire are not conducive to a spiritual existence and one should only have sex in order to reproduce.

However, some leaders of the movement, such as Hridayananda dasa Goswami, openly accept and support homosexuality and same-sex relationships.

Goswami gave his blessings in 2008 in a ceremony for a gay couple in Los Angeles. According to Chakra, the Hare Krishna publication, he said: "Our love for each other is a reflection of God's love for us. Thus, the perfection of every relationship is to see God in each other."

Will Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson be the latest bromance to hit Hollywood?

Robert Downey Jr., who plays Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic fictional character opposite Jude Law's Watson in Guy Ritchie's remake of Sherlock Holmes thinks he and Law have some sexy chemistry together.

"It's called circumstantial homosexuality," he jokingly told the press at Comic-Con Friday, after leading lady Rachel McAdams suggested the film's central love story is really between the sleuth and his sidekick.

The two actors took to each other even before Law signed on to the part. Downey was sent to meet his future costar and "sell" him on the role and "Jude walks down the hall and my assistant – who never cares about anything – is standing in the hall and she's like, 'Oh my God, there he is!' He was dressed in that kind of fabulous, super expensive, under-dressed way.

"I said, 'Dude' – and literally before he said he was going to do the movie, before he said that he was available, before he said that he either did or didn't want to be courted, we just started talking like two serious actors about what would need to happen to make this work as a piece of straight drama. We just became really close really quickly, because we just rolled up our sleeves and started working from jump."

Downey said Law, who is currently performing Hamlet on stage in London, "is so the right arm of this movie."

But good thing for the ladies, the film isn't just about male bonding. Downey shares some romantic moments with McAdams – but "not enough for my taste," he said.

The actor calls his recent creative renaissance after too many years of being sidetracked by addiction issues, "pretty miraculous, but in a realm of miracles I think it's probably a two or three I guess.

Here's a remix of Madonna's forthcoming single, "Celebration", which will be released to radio stations on August 3rd. Here new greatest hits CD, by the same name, will be available in the US on September 23rd.

Late actress Farrah Fawcett left the bulk of her multi-million dollar fortune to her troubled son Redmond O'Neal - excluding her longterm partner Ryan O'Neal from her will, according to reports.

The Charlie's Angles star lost her battle with anal cancer on last month, aged 62.

Fawcett enjoyed a 15 year relationship with actor O'Neal which ended in 1997 - they reunited shortly after her cancer diagnosis in 2006.

The blonde beauty reportedly updated her will in 2007 and the document leaves the majority of her $5.5 million estate to 24-year-old Redmond, who has long battled addiction and is currently being held behind bars on drugs charges.

According to British tabloid the Mail on Sunday, Fawcett requested Redmond's inheritance be placed in a trust fund and controlled by two executors, who will give him a monthly allowance and funds to buy his own home.

A source tells the newspaper, "Farrah appointed two trustees to make sure the money supports her son's journey into sobriety rather than giving him the means to destroy himself. Redmond's inheritance will be tightly controlled."

The star is also reported to have left a portion of her money to Texas University.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Christian Bale will slip back into his rubber Batsuit next year to begin shooting the sequel to The Dark Knight.

The Hollywood actor has confirmed he will return as Bruce Wayne/Batman for the third time in director Christopher Nolan's forthcoming film, but a production schedule had yet to be released.

However, Bale's The Dark Knight co-star Gary Oldman, who portrays Commissioner Gordon in the movie adaptations, broke the news of the return of the Caped Crusader to fans at the annual Comic-Con in San Diego, California on Friday.

He told fans, "The next Batman is shooting next year. It's at least two years away. But you didn't hear it from me!"

It's her party – and she'll go glam if she wants to! Escorted by husband Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez arrives for her 40th birthday party at Manhattan's Edison Ballroom, which was decorated with white orchids, on Saturday. "Jennifer was the belle of the ball. She was glowing and just radiating happiness," a source told People. "She really had a great time."

Rihanna has been doing more than strutting down red carpets this summer. She's also been recording a new album.

A source working on it says, "it will be the album to really give her an identity musically." While no release date has been set, fans won't have to wait to hear from the artist, who is also making a guest appearance on Jay-Z's new record Blueprint 3 – the final chapter in his Blueprint trilogy. That album is due September 11th.

Rihanna, 21, lends her voice to the catchy hook in Jay-Z's "Run This Town." The song also features Kanye West.

As for Rihanna's solo project, "It's very techno-based this time around," says the source. "She's not that far into her album yet, but it's sounding great."

Four months after reports surfaced that LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian were allegedly having an affair, a source told People that the country singer is no longer living with her husband, Dean Sheremet.

"Le and Dean have been separated for quite some time now, but they're continuing to try and work through their relationship," a Rimes pal says.

The couple married in 2002, when she was only 19. Last August (six months before their seventh anniversary), they threw a "Seven-Year Itch" party to, as Rimes put it, "remember how blessed we are."

News of their separation comes days after Cibrian's wife, Brandi Glanville, said she and the actor were splitting.

"Eddie is a devoted and loving father first and foremost and the speed bump he and Brandi are experiencing needs to be worked out privately for everyone's benefit," his manager said in a statement.

Cibrian, 36, who is joining the cast of C.S.I. Miami this fall, has denied he was having an affair with Rimes, his costar in the Lifetime original movie Northern Lights, which they filmed last fall.

In March, the Rimes pal confirmed the singer and Sheremet were having problems in their marriage, but maintained Cibrian was "not the cause," adding, "There have been issues brewing for months prior to meeting Eddie on set."

The couple's Nashville home is currently on the market for $7.45 million.

Laura Crosby seemed to have it all — looks, brains, and enough BB acumen to know to work behind the scenes. She had friends, a hidden alliance with the Athletes and was a welcome sight each time she hit the pool. In a twist, the buxom brunette ended up on the eviction block across from the harmless and popular Jordan.Laura was so confident that she was going home, she cooked herself a last meal — pizza.How did fortunes turn so quickly for the southern belle? Ronnie!Laura spoke with People about missteps, who she thinks will walk away the winner and her role in taking down Ronnie the rat. Her'es what she had to say:

Let’s talk Ronnie. Describe him in three words.Lying, conniving and malicious.

You seemed to have his number from the start. Where you shocked at how he’s manipulated the rest of the house?Early on I was very vocal about not trusting him. Ronnie came into the house and by day three he was telling everyone how his wife wrote him a Dear John letter on their one-year anniversary because he played video games so much. He was such a gamer, I knew that he would never come into BB not knowing every little detail about it. I knew he had to be a crazy BB fan.

Do you think that his wife really exists?I really didn’t think that Michelle existed! When I went up to the HOH room, I wanted to take that picture out of the damn frame and look to see if his face was glued on there. Everything that he told me was a lie except for the fact that he is married. That’s the only thing that he ever told me the truth about?

Why didn’t Ronnie put Russell up instead of you?He sees nothing but the end, nothing but the prize. He did not look at me as a pretty girl; he did not look at me as a potential friend;; he looked at me as somebody that was standing in his way to $500 grand. He could tell that I knew a lot, that I could probably get to the other guys because of my looks and my physique, so he took me out quickly.

When you called Ronnie out, the house had never been so united. What led you to that desperate measure?I was pissed, and I knew I was going down anyway, so I figured I should bring that stupid jackass down with me.

Do you think that you broke Ronnie’s spell?There would be personal satisfaction if he was the next one to come out because of what I did. But there would also be some satisfaction if they didn’t listen to me, they leave him in and he wins. I would love that too.

What’s next for you?After all of my interviews, they’ll open those doors and set me free. I’ll be in the real world again. I’m getting on a plane, heading back to Atlanta and looking forward to what happens next. I’ve been sequestered for a month, so I’m curious to see what happens when I get my phone back … A month isn’t that long, but it’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out.

Who do you think are the sleepers of the house, the people that are playing the game under the radar?Natalie is playing the best game. She has Jessie under her thumb and there is not a person in the house that dislikes her. Even when she pops off, within ten minutes everyone likes her again. She has fooled everyone in the house and nobody knows that she knows as much about BB as she does. She’s a sleeper, but everyone just thinks that she’s this 18-year-old firecracker. Nobody knows the real depth that is Natalie.

Who else do you want to see up there as the final two?I would love to see Jeff and Michele, only because I really don’t think that Jordan can do it.

Why Michele?I really like Michele. I think that she’s really nice to everyone in the house and that she’s really genuine … even though she lied to me about being a doctor. She’s really is nice. She really made an effort to get to know me and she’s smart.

If the producers called you tomorrow and said they wanted you to go back in, would you do it?In a second! I would love to do it again. When you’re in there, you have your highs and your lows and the negatives suck. But I’m such a fan, I would do it again in a second.

Jennifer Lopez is denying reports that she’s in the running to replace American Idol judge Paula Abdul, who still hasn’t signed a contract with Idol producers to return for season 8 of the FOX hit singing competition.

A rep for Lopez told People, “The rumor of Jennifer Lopez throwing herself in the ring to take over for Paula Abdul is completely false. Jennifer loves Idol but just as a fan. She just wrapped the feature film The Back-Up Plan, due out January 2010, and will release an album then as well.”

Lopez turned 40 on Friday and her rep adds, “This weekend Jen is celebrating her birthday with friends and family.”

The reports surfaced after Lopez and Idol host Ryan Seacrest were spotted having dinner at Madeo in Los Angeles earlier this month. Seacrest told paparazzi outside Madeo that “Jennifer and Paula would be a hell of a combination” on the show.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Here's the official cover for Madonna's new Greatest Hits collection, called "Celebration". The album's cover was designed by an artist called Mr. Brainwash.

Madonna emphasizes a return to the "pop" past with this cover — no doubt derivative of Warhol, Banksy...there's even a suggestion of Roy Lichtenstein Ben-day Dots in that image.

Via press release: "The songs on Celebration have all been remastered and selected by Madonna and her fans. They cover the expanse of the Material Girl’s extraordinary career of hits including “Everybody,” “Express Yourself,” “Vogue” and “4 Minutes.”

“Celebration” will be available in a two-CD set as well as a single CD. There will also be a “Celebration” DVD released simultaneously which includes the video visionary’s best videos including several that have never before been available on DVD."

There are two new songs on the album. The first is a Paul Oakenfold collaboration that goes to radio on August 3rd called "Celebration". The Hits collection is out September 29th in the U.S.

Michael Jackson may be thrilling audiences in theaters around Halloween.

Sony Pictures, which is finalizing a deal to acquire concert rehearsal footage from the singer's "This Is It" tour from AEG Entertainment, is eyeing an Oct. 30 release date for the film.

The opening bid for the performance footage started at $50 million, and Sony is said to be ponying up close to $60 million for the 80 hours filmed.

Fox, Universal, Paramount and Relativity were also interested in putting in bids.

Sony made more sense, however, considering Sony Music Entertainment owns music publishing rights to Jackson's songs.

Terms of the deal are still being worked out, but the Jackson family estate is expected to collect 90% of what's left after AEG recoups its production costs for the tour.

AEG owns the footage, filmed by "High School Musical" helmer Kenny Ortega. He'll assemble the pic, which will feature at least three videos, including an alternative version of Jackson's "Thriller," shot to be interstitial programming during Jackson's 50-night concert stand in London that was to have started this month.

The footage was meant to play in 3-D, but it's unclear as yet whether the feature film will present it that way.

Daniel Radcliffe takes the August 2009 cover of UK’s premiere gay glossy, Attitude Magazine, even though he "isn’t" gay and is dating actress Laura O’Toole.

Daniel, who turned 20 yesterday, talks about how he grew up surrounded by his parents’ gay pals and hates anyone with a homophobic attitude.

“I just loathe homophobia,” Daniel shared. “It’s just disgusting and animal and stupid and it’s just thick people who can’t get their heads around it and are just scared. I grew up around gay people entirely. I was the only child in my class who had any experience of homosexuality or anything like that.”

Daniel’s latest movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price is in theaters now!

American Idol star Paula Abdul has been offered a seat on the judging panel of another TV talent contest - So You Think You Can Dance.

Abdul's future on the singing competition was thrown into doubt last week when her manager, David Sonenberg, told the Los Angeles Times that "it does not appear" that she will be returning to Idol in 2010.

But now she could be set for a move over to the rival dance show, after the programme's judge Nigel Lythgoe revealed he would consider her for a role "without a question".

Lythgoe, who created the dance talent show in 2005, used to be a producer on American Idol, while Abdul has worked as a successful choreographer.

Discussions have come to a halt between Abdul and TV executives as she bids to return to her spot alongside fellow judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and last year's newcomer Kara DioGuardi.

New reports claim the reason behind Abdul's delayed contract renewal is because she is demanding $20 million - $10 million more than bosses are willing to offer her.

Former Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight is opening up about his departure from ABC’s hit medical drama, telling Entertainment Weekly he saw no future for Dr. George O’Malley, the lovable resident he played for five seasons.

Knight says his screen time dropped so much by season 5 that he chose to leave the show rather than seek an answer — something he says was hard to come by.

“My five-year experience proved to me that I could not trust any answer that was given [about George],” he tells the magazine. “There just comes a time when it’s so clear that moving on is the best decision.”

Costar Katherine Heigl initially disagreed with her friend.

“I didn’t think it was the right decision,” she says. “I felt like some of the problems could be worked through. But by the time it came to fruition, I was [glad] for him because he was ready to go.”

Knight also addresses the dismissal of former costar Isaiah Washington, who used a gay slur in an infamous incident on the set of the show, saying the controversy that followed created tension with Grey’s executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

Knight came out shortly after.

“I think she was concerned about having my statement come out so close to the [initial] event,” Knight says of Rhimes, who he says discouraged him from coming out.

While Knight leaves behind a top 10 show and a $14 million contract, he says the move is best for his career.

“From an outsider’s perspective, I get the ‘He’s just a spoiled actor … he doesn’t know how good he has it,’” he says. “There are a lot of people who would like to be in my position. But in the end, I need to be fulfilled in my work.”

It sounds like the fake belly bump Jennifer Lopez is wearing for her new movie The Back-Up Plan is giving her some ideas.

The singer-actress admits that she and her husband Marc Anthony would like to give their 18-month-old twins Emme and Max a sibling or two. "I would love to have more kids," the actress tells Extra. "I don't know if we will. I don't know if that's in the cards for us – but we'll see."

Lopez, who turns 40 on Friday, also opens up about the joys of watching her twins grow up. "They're more than walking now ... They're starting to talk," she says. "I put Max to bed yesterday ... and I said, 'I love you baby. I'll see you tomorrow.' And he was like, 'I love you.' "

Speaking of love, Lopez can't say enough about the positive effects of motherhood. "You just mature so quickly in such a deep way and you think life is short and you have to just go for things. You can't be afraid to try or do you best ... just do it and that's the example I want to set for my children as well. It's like you can do anything. The only thing that ever holds us back is fear... It's a useless emotion."

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